This is Episode 86 of the HRB Podcast, which carries over from our days at Hudson River Blue — new name and visual identity coming very soon! Listen below, or on your preferred podcast platforms, and if you like what you hear, consider leaving us a five-star rating.
Another busy three-game week for New York City FC, but before hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh dive into match recapping and previewing, there's important housekeeping to attend to: The launch of the New York Soccer Journal, the new home of this very podcast.
After chatting about the big "personal news" of the new outlet's debut, it's on to an unfortunate revisiting of New York City's 2-1 loss to Charlotte FC at Citi Field. Possession was controlled, chances were created, yet no points were earned by NYCFC, a fourth straight MLS match without a win, and a third straight home game without a win. There's talk of the biggest causes for concern during this winless rut, as well as some eyes turned toward the summer transfer window and what NYCFC might need to add to avoid down spells like this from recurring.
The show then switches into preview mode, with two more NYCFC matches to come this week in what is a jam-packed portion of the pre-FIFA World Cup schedule. Optimism levels vary among our hosts regarding the midweek match against FC Cincinnati in the Bronx and the weekend trip up to Canada to face CF Montréal, but it wouldn't be an episode of the show if it didn't end up with official on-the-record prognostications of how this latest three-match week will play out.
